Vacuum cleaning machine



June 30, 1953 H. c. KEEN VACUUM CLEANING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1951 INVENTOR, HEPMON C. KEEN, 15y M4 m,

fiTORNEY June 30, 1953 H c. KEEN VACUUM CLEANING MACHINE 4 SheetQs-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 27, 1951 IN VENTOP,

Mm AHTOPNEY HEP/WON C. KEEN 15y M Q.

June 30, 1953 H. c. KEEN VACUUM CLEANING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 27, 1951 IN VENTOR,

HERMON C. KEEN, EYflW/uf Q Patented June 30, 1953 VACUUM CLEANING MACHINE Hermon C. Keen, Brazil, Ind., assignor to Continental ,Car-Na-Var Corporation, Brazil, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application September 27, 1951, Serial No. 248,479

This invention relates to a vacuumcleaner of the type which is particularly well adapted for industrial uses. It embodies an electric motor case may be, with an enclosed filtering medium across the tank, all embodied in a portable machine.

A primary object of the invention is to provide in one unit a machine which will have sufiicient vacuum capacity for cleaning ordinary dust and in Fig. 6.

top edge by means. of an outturned heavy 6 Claims. (01. 18335) 2 rubber flange l3. The bag I2 is made out of a fabric which will permit the passage of air therethrough but at the same time will filter out fine dust. Within the filter bag l2 there is a skeletonized metal frame generally designated by the numeral I l. This frame has an upper and lower hoop '15 and I5 respectively sin-rounding staves ll, six in number, each stave I! being an upturned end of a crossbar [8. These bars 18 are bowed upwardly from the lower ends of the staves l7 and cross each other at a central point where they are secured by any suitable means, herein shown as by a rivet IS. The staves and bars [4 are provided to prevent the collapsing of the discharging it into the tank and there retaining bag upwardly as is Pulled p y it; picking'up metal, such as chips and particles rough, the bag l2 having ts u derside drawn around metal cutting machines, and other p a d Supported agai s further upward vel articulate matter. Also the machine has the adby means of Coming into Contact With those vantage of picking'upwater or other liquids to b bring those liquids into the tank and there re- 20 The flange I3 3 5 Serves s a as et between tain them. Furthermore, the unit is alsoadaptthe top r m 2 Of he nk l0 and the underside able for spraying'and for emptying the tank coh- O a D COVE! 2 This cover 2| se S tents und pressure, ly in position, compressively against the flange These and many other objects and advantages l by'means of a number of bolts 22, herein of th i ti in become apparent, t th shown as three in number, each rockably carried versed in the art in the following descriptionof y the tank In and having a mb screw 23 one particular form as illustrated in the accom- S0reW-t-hreaded1y engaging t ereon to turn down panying drawings, in which against a pair of ears 24 and 25 in each instance,

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation and partial the bolt 22 entering between the ears, section of the structure embodying the inven- The cover 2| has a. circular opening 26 theretion; through, and a heavy section piece of rubber 21,

Fig. 2 is a. view in top plan; herein indicated as being sponge rubber, is se- Fig. 3 is a view in top plan of the machine with cured to the cover 2| around the margin of the the motor supporting cover removed; opening 26. On this rubber 2! there is rested Fig. 4 is a view in central vertical section on the 5 the motor-fan unit 28 e and held downwardly line 4-4 in Fig. 2; thereagainst by means of the two straps 29 and Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section on the a 30, Fig. 2, which are secured hingedly by ends to line 5-5 in Fig. 1; the cover 2| and which have thumb screws 3| Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation and section engaging the opposite ends, Fig. 2.

of a modified form of the invention; This unit 28 has a pressure discharge end Fig. 7 is a detail in elevation from the inside nozzle 32 on the one end, and an intake nozzle of the tank of a liquid level control in the form 33 on the other end, over which nozzle 33 a hose as shown in Fig. 6; and I 34 is telescoped. The other end of the hose 34 Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of the circuits emis connected through a fitting 35 with the cover ployed in the form of the invention as illustrated 21 to provide a passageway 36 from the inside of the cover 21 into the hose 34. In this connection of the hose, there is'a vacuum tended to be set up in the tank In upon the operation of the motor unitv 28.

On the sideof the tank [0, there is a fitting 31 provided to which a hose (not shown) may be attached to in turn be connected to a wand or to any nozzle or tool which is intended to .be' employed in the cleaning or blowing operation. This fitting 3! opens into the tank 10, and I the floor 40 of the tank a cable 6| leads to a connecting outlet '62.

carries on the inside thereof a tube 38 which is turned downwardly to terminate by a lower end 39 in spaced relation but close to the floor 40 of the tank ID.

A short tube 4! is mounted to be carried horizontally inside of the tank H! from an opening 42 therethrough at approximately the same level as that of the fitting 31. This tube 41 carries a butterfly valve 43' therein toward its inner end, and this valve 43 is mounted on a shaft 44 which extends diametrically through the tube 4! and carries on an outer end thereof a float rod 45 in fixed connection therewith. On the outer lower end of the rod 45 there is a float 48, normally hanging downwardly as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, and in which position the valve 43 is closed as is indicated in Fig. 4. Across the inner end of the tube 4|, there is a flapper valve 41 normally closing off the tube under the influence of gravity, but being free to be shifted to the dashline position as in Fig. e'should there be pressure on the outside of the tank l greater than on the inside. a

In the modified form of the invention as illustrated in the Figs. 6-8, the tank leis provided with a pipe generally designated by the numeral 50 which connects with the fitting 3! to have a length extend horizontally within the tank, and from which horizontal length there is a downturned length 52 carried downwardly to terminate by an end 53 in spaced relation from It. The horizontal length 5! extends beyond the connection of the downturned length 52 to terminate by the end portion 54. On the end of this portion 54, there is a flapper valve 55 normally dropping to a closed position under the influence of gravity.

A float 56 is mounted inside the tank to at any desired level therein to control the upper limit or level of fluid in the tank before the device is to be automatically shut ofi. In the form herein shown, the float 56 is mounted at a relatively low position for the sake of clarityin illustrating the invention. The float 56 in this particular form is mounted to slide vertically through a bracket 51 to have an upper end of the float stem 58 in the path of a lever 59 which in turn is in the path of a switch 50 so that when the float 56 reaches a predetermined elevation, the switch '60 will be opened, the switch 60 being normally closed. From the switch 60, A cord 63 leading from the motor unit 28 carries a. male plug 64 which is detachably engaged with the outlet 62 so that it may be detached when the cover 21 is to be removed from the tank 10, or the motor 28 is to be lifted and carried about and a longer cord is inserted between the male plug '64 and the outlet 62. The current supply cord 65 also connects with the outlet 62. A, general outline of the circuit is illustrated in Fig 8. g

Operation In operating the form of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 1-5 inclusive, the hose (not shown) attached to the fitting 31 with the desired tool connected thereon. The motor 28 is set into operation by manipulating the switch 66, with the hose 34 connected as has been described and as is illustrated inthe drawings. With the operation of the motor 28, the tank It) is tended to be evacuated, air being drawn in through the fitting 31 and through the pipe 38. As long as the machine is being used as a vacuum cleaner on dry materials and is not being t used to pick up liquids, this will be the entrance of the air into the tank E0. The air will travel from within the tank l0 upwardly through the filter bag 12, and out through the hose 34 and through the unit 28 to discharge through the nozzle 32. When it is desired to clean the ba l2, the hose 34 is disconnected from the motor unit nozzle 33' and connected on the other nozzle 32 so that pressure is then created within the tank Ill, the air being forced in a reversed manner through the bag l2 tending to clean the dirt off of its under and outer surfaces to deposit it in the tank Hi and from which the dirt will be blown upwardly through the discharge pipe 38 and out through the fitting 31, also through the connected hose as the case may be. When the machine is to be employed to pick up water, such as after scrubbing a floor, or even when there have been leaks and the water is spread pretty well over the floor and the like, the machine is still operated as a vacuum machine with the hose 34 connected on the nozzle 33 so that the inside of the tank It is tended to be evacuated, and then the water and whatever air may be associated therewith is pulled in through the fitting 31 and down through the pipe 38. When the level of the liquid rises in the tank Hi sufficiently high, the float 46 will be lifted, and when it is lifted, the valve 43 will be opened, and air will then come through the tube lifting the flapper valve 41 so as to prevent further bringing .in of water. The air will flow through the tube 4! in this manner rather than being carried down against the water present in the tank H). In other words, the machine automatically quits lifting the water into the tank in when the tank It] becomes sufficiently filled as to reach that point beyond which further water is not desired, or for the purpose of preventing the water or any splashing thereof from getting onto the filter bag [2. This prevents moisture from-being taken through the motor unit 28.

, When the water is to be evacuated from the tank 10, the hose 34 is againswitched from the nozzle 33 to the nozzle 32 whereupon the tank [0 is internally pressurized and the valve 41 closes so that the water is forced up out through the pipe 38 to discharge through the fitting 31.

Referring now to the form of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 6-8, the overall operation remains substantially the same as that just described for the first form. In this second form the hose 34 is set up for evacuating the tank I 0. The air will be pulled through the fitting 31 and enter the tank It primarily through the pipe 52, although the flapper valve may open slightly to allow air to enter the tank in therefrom also. To evacuate the tank Iii the hose 34 is switched from the nozzle 33 to the nozzle 32 whereupon the flapper valve 55 will remain closed under the increased pressure within the tank In, and the dirt will go out the pipe 52 and out through the fitting 31.

When this second form of the invention is used to pick up water, water will enter the fitting 31 and drop into the tank 10 through the pipe 52, until the float 5B is lifted whereupon the switch is operated to interrupt the flow of current to the motor unit 28, and therefore the inside of the tank it] then becomes equalized in pressure substantially with that of the atmosphere. Also as a further safety factor, when the level of the. liquid within the tank [0 reaches a predetermined height, 4 the flapper valve 55 tends to open by reason of the differential of air flow, assuming that there is air mixed with the liquid as would be the case when the water is picked up from a scrubbed floor, so

therein. The material will be filtered from the the air stream passing into the bag through its wall from below to leave the material or dirt on the outside thereof. Therefore, the element I2 is simply a filter diaphragm, the shape of which may obviously vary from a substantially planar circular disc to the decided centrally bagging thereof as illustrated in the drawings and as above described, depending upon the filtering .area required, and the appended claims are to be read accordingly.

.Therefore, while I have herein shown and described my invention in the best forms as now known to me, it is obvious that structural variations may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to those precise forms beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum cleaning machine, a tank having a floor and a side wall; a filter medium in the upper portion of the tank; an air pump carried by said tank; means selectively interconnecting the intake and the discharge of said pump for air fiow through said filter respectively from and into said tank; a conduit leading downwardly by a length from an opening through the tank wall on the side of said filter removed from said pump intake and discharge flows to a lower end adjacent to but spaced above the tank floor; passageway means at a level in the tank above said conduit lower end opening to the exterior of the tank; a valve across said passageway means normally biased to a position closing said means, opening under a tank external pressure exceeding the tank internal pressure, and closing upon a tank internal pressure in excess of the external pressure providing a tank discharge passageway flow from said conduit lower end opening through the conduit and out said tank wall opening; and float operated means breaking the vacuum within said tank upon a predetermined degree of filling of the tank with liquid entering through said conduit.

2. In a vacuum cleaning machine, a tank having a floor and a side wall; a filter medium in the upper portion of the tank; an air pump carried by said tank; means selectively interconnecting the intake and the discharge of said pump for air flow through said filter respectively from and into said tank; a conduit leading downwardly by a length from an opening through the tank wall on the side of said filter removed from said pump intake and discharge flows to a lower end adjacent to but spaced above the tank floor; passageway means at a level in the tank above said conduit lower end opening to the exterior of the tank; a valve across said passageway means normally biased to a position closing said means, opening under a tank external pressure exceeding the tank internal pressure, and closing upon a tank internal pressure in excess of the external pressure providing a tank discharge passageway flow from said conduit lower end opening through "accumulation removal from the medium for de- .posit in the tank and discharge from the tank through said conduit.

the conduit and out said tank wall opening and float operated means breaking the vacuum within said tank upon a predetermined degree of filling of the tank with liquid entering through said conduit; said filter medium being in bag form; and a skeleton frame within the bag to .hold the medium against collapse during evacuation by said pump of said tank; said bag having freedom to shift from said frame upon pressurizing of the tank by said pump, to aid in dirt 3. In a vacuum cleaning machine, a tank having a fioor and a side wall; a filter medium in the upper portion of the tank; an air pump carried by said tank; means selectively interconnecting the intake and .the discharge of said pump for air flow through said filter respectively from and into said tank; a conduit leading downwardly by a length from anopening through the tank wall on the side of said filter removed from said pump intake and discharge flows to a lower end adjacent to but spaced above the tank floor; passageway means at a level in the tank above said conduit lower end opening to the exterior of the tank; a valve across said passageway means norm-ally biased to a position closing said means, opening under a tank external pressure exceeding the tank internal pressure, and closing upon a tank internal pressure in excess of the external pressure providing a tank discharge passageway fiow from said conduit lower end opening through the conduit and out said tank wall opening and float operated means breaking the vacuum within said tank upon a predetermined degree of filling of the tank with liquid entering through said conduit; said passageway means comprising an upper portion of said conduit.

4. In a vacuum cleaning machine, a tank having a floor and a side Wall; a filter medium in I the upper portion of the tank; an air pump carried by said tank; means selectively interconmeeting the intake and the discharge of said pump for air flow through said filter respectively from and into said tank; a conduit leading downwardly by a length from an opening through the tank wall on the side of said filter removed from said pump intake and discharge flows to a lower end adjacent to but spaced above the tank floor; passageway means at a level in the tank above said conduit lower end opening to the exterior of the tank; a valve across said passageway means normally biased to a position closing said means, opening under a tank external pressure exceeding the tank internal pressure, and closing upon a tank internal pressure in excess of the external pressure providing a tank discharge passageway flow from said conduit lower end openin through the conduit and out said tank wall opening and float operated means breaking the Vacuum within said tank upon a predetermined degree of filling of the tank with liquid entering through said conduit; said passageway means comprising a separate conduit approximately at the level of the conduit opening through the tank wall.

5. In a vacuum cleaning machine, a tank having a floor and a side Wall; a filter medium in the upper portion of the tank; an air pump carried by said tank; means selectively interconnecting the intake and the discharge of said pump for air fiow through said filter respectively from and into said tank; a conduit leading downwardly by a length from an opening through the tank wall .lon the side of said filter removed from said pump Jintake and discharge flows to a lower end adjalcent-to bui', spaced. above thetank floor; passageway means at a level'in the tank abovesaid conduit lower end opening to the exterior of .the tank; a valve across said passageway means nor- -mally biased to a position closing said means, opening under a tank external pressure exceeding the tank internal pressure, and closing upon a tank internal pressure in excess of the external "pressure providing a tank discharge passageway i new from said conduit lower end opening through the conduit and out said tank wall opening and float operated means breaking the vacuum within said tank upon a predetermined degree of filling of the tank with liquid entering through said conduit; said passageway means comprising a separate conduit approximately at the level of the conduit opening through the tank wall; said vacuum breaker means consisting of a second valve across said separate conduit, and of a float interconnected to said second valve normally dropping under gravity influence to hold said second valve closed and opening the second valve upon being lifted by a rising liquid level in the tank.

6. In a vacuum cleaning machine, a tank having a floor and a side wall; a filter medium in the upper portion of the tank; an air pump carried by said tank; means selectively interconnecting the intake and the discharge of said pump for 1 air flow through said filter respectively from and into said tank; a conduit leading downwardly 'by a length from an opening through the tank Wall on the side of saidfilter removed from said pump intake and discharge flows to a lower end adjacent to but spaced above the tank floor; passageway-means at a level in the tank above said conduit lower end opening to the exterior of the tank; a valve across said passageway mean normally biased to a position closing said means, opening under a tank external pressure exceeding the tank internal pressure, and closing upon a tank internal pressure in excess of the external pressure providing a tank discharge passageway flow from said conduit lower end opening through 'the conduit and out said tank wall opening and References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,219,567 Spielman Oct. 29, 1940 2,327,181 Dunbar Aug. 17, 1943 2,339,640 I-Iolinger Jan. 18, 1944 2,499,576 Platek Mar. '-7, 1950 2,538,763' Leonard Nov. '7, 1950 2,549,181 Durham Apr. 1'7, 1951 

